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Monday, March 12, 2012

MONDAY MUSINGS: A Fascination Of Cahokia

Over the years we’ve heard a great deal of the Mayans and Aztecs. They
were a marvel. But they weren’t the only sophisticated civilizations on the
North American continent. We’ve just heard more about them.

Did you know there was a huge metropolis in the Midwest long before
Columbus stepped foot on what is known as the United States? It rivals the
Mayans and Aztecs in knowledge, finance, commerce, agriculture, and medical
practices. Furthermore, this group of people built a mound that took up the
space of a pyramid and was at least a hundred feet tall (considering erosion
rates, it could have been even taller)? In fact, the base is larger than the
Great Pyramid in Egypt and covered fourteen acres. The surrounding town,
consisting of at least 120 pyramid styled mounds (massive bases and flat tops),
built around the central plaza and mound and boasted a population larger than
many cities in Europe?

Cahokia was huge, even by European standards. It’s estimated the
nation was made up of about fifty loosely connected communities in the greater
area spread out from the main mound (Monks Mound). Surrounding the mound were
many well-built houses and many had family gardens. Numerous mounds had
official buildings sitting on the top of them; some were homes of the elite.
Population is estimated at around 20,000 in the city and probably another
30,000 in the surrounding area.

We think of football fields are huge, but the plaza was roughly the
size of 45 football fields. That’s
huge and it was enclosed in a wooden stockade (which took approximately 20, 000
logs to make).

What’s truly amazing to me is that the residents built these mounds.
Keep in mind they didn’t have horses and wagons to do this. Instead this dirt was
hauled by basket carried by men and, no doubt, some slaves were also used. Many
tribes had slaves from enemy tribes.

The surrounding area was lush because it was part of the Mississippi
bottomland. Rich soil, at least initially, for supporting an advanced agricultural society. It
boasted of some good forests but those were cut down for building, especially
the wooden wall around the top of the mound. Cahokia also sat at the convergence of
the Missouri, Illinois and Mississippi rivers and so there was commerce from
trade. Using the rivers trading reached from the gulf area north to the
Minnesota area. Who knows, for sure, how far traders went on foot through out
the lands surrounding the city. Archaeologists have found goods that indicate
the trade routes were quite far reaching. But can you just imagine being on a
trade canoe and seeing Cahokia for the first time? It would have been a
wondrous sight to see.

Experts say the town only lasted about 300 years and then was
abandoned. I imagine as they used up the resources (they weren’t great land
managers) and the weather changes had many leaving and heading to smaller, more
sustainable, settlements and villages. Many of the Native Americans in the area
had similar beliefs and building styles so that would fit.

Cahokia is one of the largest archaeological areas in North
America and it’s practically at my doorstep. I want to visit the area again and
really look around. Walk up those 150 some steps and stand on Monks Mound and
imagine a world of 700 years ago. I want to stand below the mound, in what was
once the plaza, and imagine a sunrise cresting that mound and the awe of the
populace when they saw the sun ‘being born’ from the top of the mound.

Have any of you visited this area? Or have you visited other
archaeological sites?

Jo, many haven't heard about Cahokia. It's one of those lost cities. In early colonial times, the last thing the settlers wanted to find out was these *savages* were in anyway advanced or might have had a right to fight back when these settlers claimed their land. In fact, many Europeans when first seeing the town (even after it was abandoned) thought that someone else, like the Vikings or another seagoing group had built it. Surely it couldn't have been built by these backward natives.

History is fascinating regardless of where. I think visiting King Arthur's area would also be fun.

Hey, Tammi! I'm not surprised you visited. Monks Mound isn't all that far from St. Louis. I'm thinking it's not only and interesting place to visit but the land still tells the tales of who and what was there. I remember a feeling of them still there--much like the feeling you get visiting battlefields. The land still speaks.

Btw, I had a great time yesterday. thanks for the feeling of peace and laughter shared!

Hi Sia ... I didn't know anything about the Cahokia - how very interesting .. it's great technology has moved on - so we can see things undergound and envisage more of what was there. Fascinating .. and I'd love to visit sometime .. great post ..

Cheers - Hilary

PS - your Native American Dog post - I read to the oldies - as they're interested in animals .. and we're fascinated by it .. thanks!